Deal with a husband who has a mental health problem.
Everyone around a person with a severe mental illness is affected.It can have a significant impact on your marriage.If you and your husband work together, it doesn't have to end in divorce if you have a mental illness.You can have a rewarding marriage if you learn how to deal with your husband's moods.
Step 1: Inform yourself of the disorder.
You can help deal with your husband's mental health issues by learning more about it.You can learn about the different phases and symptoms.Educating yourself can help you learn how to identify manic or depressive episodes, understand the chemical imbalance behind them, and look for any troubling behavior.It is possible to reduce frustration from misunderstanding the disorder by knowing about it.
Step 2: Undergo treatment with each other.
Both of you need to be involved in the treatment of your husband.You have to see your husband's psychiatrist with him.This could lead to a healthier marriage if you become part of the treatment process.The doctor can help you understand your husband more if you give him an honest assessment of his behavior.If you don't get your husband's consent, a psychiatrist will not be able to include you in the sessions.Let your husband know that you are not going to try to control him or ignore him, but to offer support and be part of the treatment process because his successful treatment and management affects both of you.
Step 3: Pick a schedule.
You should help your husband adopt a schedule.Your husband can avoid surprises with this routine.A schedule with a consistent sleep time, daily exercise, a healthy diet, and counseling should be included.Other activities can be included in the schedule.Spending time together is included in the schedule.You and your husband need to communicate, spend time together, and work on your marriage.You could decide that every Saturday night for three hours will be couples time.You can go to the movies, eat dinner, or play music in the house.Cell phones and computers should not be used during this time.
Step 4: Provide a safe place for your husband.
Your husband should feel safe in the home you build.He needs a safe place to let out his feelings.People with a mental illness need safe places to go.Make sure your husband understands that it's okay for him to express his true feelings for you.You can talk to him whenever he needs you.
Step 5: Children should be taught about bipolar disorder.
If you have children, you should not hide your husband's illness from them.They should know what it means that their father has a mental illness.They should be taught how to cope with mental illness and how society views it.Tell your children how they feel.Let them know that their feelings are valid.Don't tell your children that your husband's mental illness is a family secret.This can cause your children to be afraid of your husband or his illness.
Step 6: It's a good idea to know when your husband is talking instead of the bipolar.
Your husband may say things that he doesn't mean.He may say harsh words if he is very angry.If he is depressed, he may say that it would be better if he was dead or that he doesn't care about anything.It is possible to separate the words of your husband and yourself.It may take a while to figure it out.You might need the help of your husband's psychiatrist to figure out how to separate the two.If you learn how to identify the bipolar words, your husband won't be able to abuse you.If your husband is abusing you, talk to a Psychiatrist.
Step 7: There should be ground rules.
Rules should be set for dealing with your husband's disorder.The rules cover a wide range of behaviors, from major depression to suicidal thoughts.These rules are put in place to help both of you know what to expect when your husband starts acting in a certain way, and to also help you understand what the other expects from you.Discuss the rules with your husband when he isn't in an episode.Make it clear what your non-negotiable rules are.Tell your husband what you don't want him to do.Explain the consequences and actions you will take if he doesn't take his medication.The action plan is pointless if you don't follow through.You should approach it lovingly because you are talking to your husband and partner.Don't treat your husband like a child.If you want your marriage and family to remain strong and intact, approach this like two adults who are making a plan to manage his mental illness.
Step 8: Rules to follow management strategies.
Making sure the person with the disorder follows his or her management plan is an important aspect of having a healthy, working marriage and family.Your husband should take his medication as directed, go to his therapy appointments, and follow any other management strategies that the psychiatrist, you and your husband have come up with.One hard and fast rule is that your husband takes his medication as directed.People stop taking their medication, which is a problem with the treatment of bipolar.
Step 9: Financial boundaries have to be set.
People with the mental illness go on spending sprees.It puts a lot of stress on families and relationships.It's a good idea to come up with rules with your husband.If you put a rule in place, you can take away his credit card or freeze his accounts if he starts spending.
Step 10: Do not tolerate abuse.
Some people can be angry with their families.This will not be accepted in your family.Discuss with your husband that physical abuse is not acceptable.Discuss with him how you will not tolerate verbal and emotional abuse.If your husband is abusive, talk to him about ways in which the two of you can stop him.If you need to talk to a Psychiatrist.
Step 11: An action plan for crises should be put together.
When things get too bad, you and your husband should come up with some rules.He may get in a bad episode, refuse to take his medicine, or be suicidal.As much as possible, the rules you set are to protect your husband.If your husband has been in a depression for a while, he may be responsible for contacting the doctor.It is expected of your husband to tell you if he is suicidal so you can get help for him.
Step 12: Do not ignore the problem.
Some people think that the mental illness will go away if they ignore it.No one in the family should ignore your husband.Your husband shouldn't ignore his mental illness if he refuses to get treatment.You should not pretend that your husband is okay.Problems can be caused by this.You should grieve for the fact that your husband has a mental illness.Grieving may be a part of the process.It can be difficult to deal with a husband who is manic, so give yourself time to adjust.
Step 13: Don't be living your life for your husband.
Your life should not be only about your husband, even if you have to make adjustments and sacrifice because of his illness.You shouldn't live for him.You should be who you are, with your interests and life.Pursue your hobbies, career, and personal goals.Don't sacrifice yourself.You are a human who deserves a good life.You should take care of yourself as well as your husband.It can cause a lot of problems for both of you if your life is only focused on your husband.
Step 14: Search for a support network.
It can be hard to reach out for support when your husband is dealing with a mental illness.You should seek support from family and friends.It is possible to relieve the burden on both of your shoulders by finding people you trust.You can find a support group in your community if you don't want to turn to people you know.It is possible to talk about being married to a man with a mental illness without fear.
Step 15: Be aware that there is a lot of confusion about the disorder.
Misdiagnosis is common among people with bipolar disorder because of the high rates of comorbidity.Substance abuse problems, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia are some of the disorders that may be suffered by individuals with bipolar disorder.The symptoms of depression may be noticed and treated.Encourage your husband to talk to his Psychiatrist about the full range of his symptoms if you believe that he has been misdiagnosed.
Step 16: When you are calm, discuss the topic with each other.
If your husband has been diagnosed with bipolar in the past but isn't being treated by a psychiatrist, you should help him get the help he needs.It is possible for you to stay safe and healthy while having a happy marriage.Don't bring up the topic if you are upset or emotional.It's possible that the first time you bring it up, it won't work.If you bring it up, your husband may be upset.He might think he doesn't need help because he's been doing fine without help.Leave it for now and then bring it up again in the future.
Step 17: As you talk to your husband, keep your tone positive.
When you bring up your husband's illness, be careful with how you talk to him.All accusations should be kept out of your voice when talking to him.It will cause distress in your husband if you get emotional or angry.Try not to say things like, "I love you, and I have noticed you've seemed down lately."I want to help you if I can.I did some research and I think you may have a mental illness.
Step 18: Provide your husband information.
You might find yourself in a situation where your husband has never been diagnosed with a mental illness.If your husband has never heard of the disorder, he may not know what it is.Information about the disorder should be shared with your husband.Give him time to look over the information or read it with him.You can print out articles about how to identify the symptoms of a mental illness.Information about how the brain is affected by the disorder can be included.You should include treatment options as well.
Step 19: Don't allow yourself to be abused.
It takes dedication to treatment and management on both spouses' parts to build a healthy relationship.This may not be the case sometimes.You may be subject to abuse if your husband ignores his diagnosis.Abuse can be many things.People with a mental illness may blame you for things.Emotional abuse can be caused by cruel or controlling behavior.If a person's anger gets too much, he may perform physical abuse.Financial abuse can be caused by manic spending sprees that cause debt.